PMA Islamic Preacher shot, killed

BAGUIO CITY (December 6, 2018) – Islamic Preacher of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Bedejim Abdullah, a popular imam here, was killed Thursday before noon at Kayang Street here.

Chief Inspector Eddie Bagto, Bagui City Police Office Station 1 commander said that the shooting incident occurred around 11 a.m. Thursday in front of Kayang Business Center, where Abdullah of kilometer 6, La Trinidad, Benguet was attacked.

Abdullah was shot twice in the head and thrice in the body by a still-unidentified assailant in a crowded street in central Baguio, a stray bullet hit a saleslady in her knee.

Both Bedejim and the saleslady were taken to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), where the Imam died while being treated.

The saleslady in now undergoing operation at the same hospital, Bagto said.

Abdullah was an imam of Muslim cadets at the PMA. He was also a guardian and counselor of Muslim members of the Baguio City Jail.

He also hosted a radio program on Muslim affairs in a local station here.

Police said Bedejim was walking towards Kayang Business Center when a male suspect who was seen in a CCTV footage wearing black jacket, ball cap and white mask, suddently shot him in several times in his back and ran to the direction of Abanao Stree, where he disappeard.

Abdullah Samsoden Monib, a friend and colleague of Abdullah, said that he had no personal or business enemies, but mentioned that he had been receiving threats from alleged fundamentalist groups.

“If you are spreading the right teaching, then you can be sure that other sectors will threaten you,” he added.

Abdullah was instrumental in setting up the first mosque in the city along Sepic Road.

He also helped coordinate peace events in the city with other religious leaders.

Bedejim, as he is fondly known, was an avid cyclist and a nature trekker.